Shloka 54

स्वेच्छाविग्रहसंभव-प्रतिष्ठाफलवर्णनम् (विविधशिवमूर्तिप्रतिष्ठा, लोक-फल, शिवसायुज्य)

Devanagari script

क्रीडते नात्र संदेहो द्वितीय इव शङ्करः तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान् यावद् इच्छा द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

krīḍate nātra saṃdeho dvitīya iva śaṅkaraḥ tatra bhuktvā mahābhogān yāvad icchā dvijottamāḥ

Translation

لا ريب: هناك يلهو شَنْكَرَة كأنه شيفا ثانٍ متجلٍّ. وهناك يتمتّع بتلك اللذّات العظمى ما دام يشاء، يا أفضلَ ذوي الميلادين.

Word by Word

• क्रीडते: sports/plays (divinely manifests līlā)

• न अत्र: here, in this matter

• संदेहः: doubt

• द्वितीय इव: as if a second (another manifest form)

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara (Śiva, the auspicious Pati)

• तत्र: there (in that sacred locus/realm)

• भुक्त्वा: having enjoyed/experienced

• महाभोगान्: great enjoyments, exalted delights

• यावत्: as long as

• इच्छा: will, sovereign desire (icchā-śakti)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (address to Brahmin sages)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It affirms that Śiva is not merely symbolized but truly present—His līlā and sovereignty are experienced in the sacred locus associated with the Liṅga, validating worship as contact with the living Pati.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva-tattva is shown as svatantra (absolutely free): He manifests “as if a second” and enjoys by His own icchā-śakti, untouched by limitation—Pati remains the Lord even while appearing within experience.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is dhyāna on Śiva’s līlā-filled presence in the Liṅga’s sacred sphere—supporting pūjā with contemplative absorption (bhāvanā) where the pashu turns toward Pati beyond pasha.